Bonne Année! Have a New Year's goal? Mine is to be more concise in my writing. I'll practice today by getting straight to the point (er… just after today's word and our sponsor's message!):
aller droit au but (ah-lay-dwat-oh-bewt)
: to get straight to the point
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file
En écriture, comme en conversation, il faut aller droit au but.
In writing, as in conversation, one must go straight to the point.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Good news to start off the new year: A long-lost book project will soon see the light of day! After resurrecting an old manuscript, and dusting off the thick layer of doubt covering it, I spent last fall editing the volume.
I need your help now to choose a cover for this next collection of short stories titled "First French Essais." To guide you in picking the right cover, here's a brief description of the book:
As the title suggests, this memoir is made up of the "first" stories that appeared in this blog. And the French word "essais" in the title hints at "first attempts" at writing and at French life. This meaningful "writing/French life" combination is kicked up a notch in the subtitle, which reads: "Trying out Writing, Marriage, and France." (Not to be nonchalant about marriage! No, marriage is not something to try out! That's not at all what I mean to imply…)
As you can see I need your help! First things first: the book cover. Let's focus on that (we can work on the marriage later. (Whoops, there I go again! That's not what I meant to imply!)
* * *
Vote Here!
To vote on a book cover pictured at the top of this post, simply leave a message here in the comments box. There are 6 contestants–see their numbers to the bottom right of each photo. Let me know which is the most attractive! Click here to jot down your choice. Many thanks in advance!
Special thanks to the book angels over at TLC Graphics who designed this round of covers! Thanks Tamara Dever, for the covers, and thank you, Erin Stark, for creating another easy-on-the-eyes interior. I love your work! (Speaking of work, I've given you extra, Erin, as this book will be filled will full color photos and captions designed to grow the readers vocabulary even more!)
Once again, Bonne Année! May you continue to grow like this French beauty: branching out and unfurling, tickling the surface of the earth with your traveling feet.
New to this blog? Download the ebook or paperback and learn much more than French vocabulary–get to know the heart of this foreign culture. Click here.
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Hello, Congratulations on your book! I really prefer the one with the front of the bike and the flowers-top/left.
Hello, Congratulations on your book! I really prefer the one with the front of the bike and the flowers-top/left.
Kristin
My wife and I both like #1 the best. The writing on the building looks like the name of the business has been painted on the facade – a fun visual joke…just like real businesses paint their names right on the cement in small villages! Something about the bicycle also heightens the sense of “just beginning”.
#2 is a very close second. We find the man in the photo very engaging and we like the larger image of the bicycle. But the 2nd cover loses the joke of the business name painted on the side of the building (even though the title appears on the wall). I think the difference is that in the first photo, the size / scale and the faded red color of the text appears to be right for the building, where in the second it’s not the right size / scale and can’t be due to amount of space available.
Looking forward to your first esais.
Bonne année, Bonne santé
Ray Stoddard
Kristin
My wife and I both like #1 the best. The writing on the building looks like the name of the business has been painted on the facade – a fun visual joke…just like real businesses paint their names right on the cement in small villages! Something about the bicycle also heightens the sense of “just beginning”.
#2 is a very close second. We find the man in the photo very engaging and we like the larger image of the bicycle. But the 2nd cover loses the joke of the business name painted on the side of the building (even though the title appears on the wall). I think the difference is that in the first photo, the size / scale and the faded red color of the text appears to be right for the building, where in the second it’s not the right size / scale and can’t be due to amount of space available.
Looking forward to your first esais.
Bonne année, Bonne santé
Ray Stoddard
I vote for number 1! Bonne Annee!
I vote for number 1! Bonne Annee!
Je prefere #1.
Je prefere #1.
Hi Kirstin. Love your blog! I like number one cover design best. It would make me stop and look.
Very best wishes with the project, Joan
Hi Kirstin. Love your blog! I like number one cover design best. It would make me stop and look.
Very best wishes with the project, Joan
My vote is number 2, followed by 1. They are more simple and direct in their design.
Marilyn Griffith
My vote is number 2, followed by 1. They are more simple and direct in their design.
Marilyn Griffith
Definitely #2. It is so delightfully ‘French’! And the composition is intriguing, it draws the eye to the title on the cracked wall which I like because of the French /English play on the words essais / essays as well as to the verb ‘ essayer’. Very clever!
Definitely #2. It is so delightfully ‘French’! And the composition is intriguing, it draws the eye to the title on the cracked wall which I like because of the French /English play on the words essais / essays as well as to the verb ‘ essayer’. Very clever!
I like #2 (love the colors), followed by #4.
Bonne année, Bonne santé!
I like #2 (love the colors), followed by #4.
Bonne année, Bonne santé!
Bonjour de l’Australie… J’aime beaucoup votre blog, bravo…
j’aime #2 et peut-etre #1 but #1 is too subtle ie title.
Good luck with it all
Bonne année, Bonne santé!
Bonjour de l’Australie… J’aime beaucoup votre blog, bravo…
j’aime #2 et peut-etre #1 but #1 is too subtle ie title.
Good luck with it all
Bonne année, Bonne santé!
I’d go for #4.
I’d go for #4.
I like #1, next choice #2 … Beautiful & very French! Bonne Annee!
I like #1, next choice #2 … Beautiful & very French! Bonne Annee!
I love #3…..bonne chance!
I love #3…..bonne chance!
# 1
# 1
4
4
I would go with 2 or 1.
Many thanks for the continuing pleasure you give us, and very best wishes to you and yours for a splendid 2014 !
George
I would go with 2 or 1.
Many thanks for the continuing pleasure you give us, and very best wishes to you and yours for a splendid 2014 !
George
Number one is the best….love the fleurs et la bicyclette…Joyeux Nouvel An
Number one is the best….love the fleurs et la bicyclette…Joyeux Nouvel An
I think selection 2 is snappy, modern, and eye-catching. The other versions with the sheep are bucolic and charming but typical. (If you have to choose one with the sheep and the romantic lettering, the fourth one is more clear and concise. The third cover looks confusing and indecisive while the first one’s title or subject matter isn’t obvious. The fifth and sixth choice, the title looks like a wine label and again unclear what is the subject of the book.) However, I’m sure whatever you choose will be quite appealing.
Good luck and congratulations! Enjoying all your posts and photos of French life, especially the photos. When it’s cold and dreary in Holland, I can pretend I have a friend in the south of France.
I think selection 2 is snappy, modern, and eye-catching. The other versions with the sheep are bucolic and charming but typical. (If you have to choose one with the sheep and the romantic lettering, the fourth one is more clear and concise. The third cover looks confusing and indecisive while the first one’s title or subject matter isn’t obvious. The fifth and sixth choice, the title looks like a wine label and again unclear what is the subject of the book.) However, I’m sure whatever you choose will be quite appealing.
Good luck and congratulations! Enjoying all your posts and photos of French life, especially the photos. When it’s cold and dreary in Holland, I can pretend I have a friend in the south of France.
Definitely #1. #2 second. To me, the other choices look like the covers for text books.
Definitely #1. #2 second. To me, the other choices look like the covers for text books.
I love number 1 and I love your writing, thank you for sharing so much with us. Wendy from Australia x
I love number 1 and I love your writing, thank you for sharing so much with us. Wendy from Australia x
Numéro deux!
Numéro deux!
2
2
Hi Kristin,
Been a long-time follower of your blog and life!
I like the first cover best, however a few caveats. These days, online, covers are often shown as thumbnails, so it’s more and more important that the title stand out, as well as your name.
I love the title as part of the wall, and love the flowers on #1. Says France to me (I lived 11 years in Geneva, learned French during that time). If there was a way, I’d try to make the title stand out a little more, and like the idea of Essais in Italic, though it might not look as good, so unsure of that.
Good luck with it! Marilyn
I’d like to see your name larger, more like #5 or #6.
Hi Kristin,
Been a long-time follower of your blog and life!
I like the first cover best, however a few caveats. These days, online, covers are often shown as thumbnails, so it’s more and more important that the title stand out, as well as your name.
I love the title as part of the wall, and love the flowers on #1. Says France to me (I lived 11 years in Geneva, learned French during that time). If there was a way, I’d try to make the title stand out a little more, and like the idea of Essais in Italic, though it might not look as good, so unsure of that.
Good luck with it! Marilyn
I’d like to see your name larger, more like #5 or #6.
Definately no. 2. Where else would it be!!
Definately no. 2. Where else would it be!!
#1, or #2, I almost felt guilty not choosing your sheep. I look forward every day to your email. Thank you for sharing. Merci, Bonne Année!
#1, or #2, I almost felt guilty not choosing your sheep. I look forward every day to your email. Thank you for sharing. Merci, Bonne Année!
Hi, I like #2 best, #1second best.
Katharine
Hi, I like #2 best, #1second best.
Katharine